Impatiens plant named ‘TiCoPur’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct double-flowered ‘ Impatiens walleriana’  plant name ‘TiCoPur’, producing bright purple flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species and variety denomination: ‘Impatiens walleriana’ plant and known by the cultivar name ‘TiCoPur’.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar botanically known as ‘Impatiens walleriana’ and by the cultivar name ‘TiCoPur’, which is shown in the photograph accompanying this specification.

The cultivar was developed and selected in a controlled breeding program in a controlled environment in Broadbent, Oreg. by the inventors, Harlan Cosner and Sue Cosner, as described herein. The plants may be used in landscaping, window, and hanging baskets and flower gardens. The plants are generally classed as an annual bedding plant.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

‘TiCoPur’ is compared with ‘Impatiens walleriana’ named ‘Deep Purple,’ subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,426.

COMPARISON

The impatiens plant of the present invention differs from prior plants, namely ‘Deep Purple’ in at least the following ways:

-   -   1. The flower color of ‘TiCoPur’ is lighter than that of ‘Deep         Purple’.     -   2. The plant of ‘Deep Purple’ is much larger than plant of         ‘TiCoPur’.     -   3. See accompanying comparison chart.         These and other distinguishing characteristics will be apparent         to persons skilled in the art.

BACKGROUND—DISCOVERY AND PARENTAGE

The present cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. The pollen producing parent was an unpatented double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’ designated M-BR-9, and the seed producing parent was an unpatented semi-double-flowered impatiens designated P-BR-17A. The seed parent's flower color was purple, and the pollen parent's flower color was hot pink.

The cross was made in the breeders' controlled breeding program at Broadbent, Oreg. The first asexual reproduction was also made at Broadbent, Oreg. Successive asexual generations produced from cuttings with two or more leaves have shown the cultivar to be stable.

The cultivar is unique either in one or a combination of the characteristics described herein. It is a new double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’ producing bright purple flowers; dark green foliage; compact growth habit; fully double flowers held above or beyond the foliage on strong peduncles and pedicels; and a compact mounded growth habit.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to the following environmental and cultural practices at Rogue River, Oreg., and was taken on or about Mar. 1, 2003.

The photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the cultivar described herein.

The photograph was taken of a ‘TiCoPur’ plant of about 10 weeks of age from rooted cuttings, at first inflorescence. There may be variations between the colors in the photograph and the colors in the following description due to light reflectance, or the amount of blue or red light captured in the film. If such variations occur, the written description shall control.

The plant of the present invention has not been observed in all possible environmental and/or cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light level, humidity and also with cultural practices such as fertility, soil, and water quality.

Container—6-inch Azalea containers.

Medium—Peat-lite type of soil less medium.

Greenhouse covering—Double layer Polyethylene with 50% shade applied above the covering.

Minimum temperature—70° F.

Maximum temperature—75° F.

Light levels—1000 to 1500 ft candles.

Fertilizer—20-10-20 with trace elements applied twice followed by one leaching with clear water.

Cutting type—Lateral stems with two or more leaves.

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type of cutting.—Lateral stems with two or more leaves were             used for asexual reproduction.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Generally about 7 to 10 days at soil             temperature of 72° F. -   Appearance and form of mature plant:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—Mounded and of medium vigor.         -   Plant size.—Plants mature at about 16 cm. in height and             about 30 cm. in width. Both of these measurements are a             function of age, environmental and cultural practices, and             can vary accordingly.         -   Rooting description.—The roots are fibrous and             well-branched.         -   Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.         -   Branching habit.—Plants are self-branching. Stems are strong             and freely produced. The number of stems depends upon             cultural practices, age of stems used as cuttings and the             number of growth buds present on the cutting when stuck.         -   Stems.—Stems are freely produced and no pinching to induce             branching is needed. Color is between 146A and 146B with             tiny dark markings of a very hard to determine color that             appears to be close to 183B. The stems at maturity are             generally at least 3 mm in diameter at the internodes, and             the internode length is generally at least 0.5 cm in length.         -   Foliage shape and size.—Shape is ovate with cuneate to             attenuate base; crenate margin, margin having tiny spines of             an undeterminable reddish to brownish red color and each             being less than 0.1 mm in length and protruding outwards in             a perpendicular direction from leaf edge and parallel to the             flat surfaces of the leaf margin between the lobes of the             crenate margin; and an acuminate apex. Size of largest is             about 5 cm long; about 4 cm wide.         -   Foliage color.—Adaxial surface close to 147A; abaxial             surface close to 147C; abaxial surface venation is close to             146A; Adaxial surface venation, main vein at base is closest             to 146A, lateral veins are barely distinguishable but appear             closest to 146A.         -   Foliage texture.—Smooth and flat.         -   Petioles.—Longest petioles are about 3.5 cm long, half             round, flat to slightly convex on upper surface which is             about 4 mm wide, depth (from the upper surface to the bottom             surface) of about 2.5 mm. Adaxial surface color appears to             be 146B; abaxial surface color appears to be close to 146C.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year around in greenhouse             conditions, and the frost-free period from spring through             fall when planted outdoors. Flowers are produced             continuously throughout the flowering season.         -   Bud size, shape & color.—The buds prior to opening are about             1 cm. in length; about 0.75 cm. in diameter; shape is ovate.             Bud color prior to opening is close to 145A on top and close             to 149D on bottom.         -   Time to flower.—Flowering begins at about 10 weeks form             rooted cuttings.         -   Duration of flower.—Each flower generally lasts about 5 days             at 75° F. maximum and 70° F. minimum temperature.         -   Flowers borne.—Above or beyond the foliage.         -   Flower count.—Usually two or more open flowers per stem and             generally 15 or more from visible buds to fully mature             flowers.         -   Flower texture.—Smooth and satiny.         -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower color.—Petals/petaloids — Adaxial surface is close to             74A with a basal spot close to 67A. Abaxial surface is close             to 74D with a basal spot close to 67A.         -   Flower size and shape.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide;             generally at least 1 cm deep. The above measurements refer             to the larger flowers, and the flower size was taken during             winter low light when the flowers are the smallest. During             spring and summer, the flowers are generally much larger             than the above measurements and as much as double the             described size.         -   Petal size and shape.—Generally, at least 3.5 cm wide;             generally at least 1 cm deep. The largest petals are             generally at least 1.5 cm. wide and at least 1.5 cm. deep;             obovate to exaggerated obovate in shape with obtuse to             retuse apex, entire margin, and cuneate to obtuse base. The             above measurements refer to the average flowers; and the             flower size was taken during winter low light when the             flowers are the smallest, during spring and summer, the             flowers are generally much larger than the above             measurements.         -   Petal/petaloid count.—25 or more.         -   Calyx.—Calyx consists of generally one sepal and one spur.             The spur is generally at least 2 cm long, and about 2 mm in             diameter at sepal end; shape is an acicular tapering tube             about 1 mm in diameter at the apex, and it is attached             toward the base of the sepal in a peltate manner. Color is             close to 145A at apex, 67A at base, and a purple tinged             green not matching or close to any color in the chart. The             sepal generally measures about 1 cm wide, and about 1.25 cm             long; ovate in shape with an acute apex, entire margin, and             obtuse to cordate base; adaxial surface is close to 149 D             with a spot around where the spur connects close to 67A; the             abaxial surface is close to 145D with a spot where the spur             attaches close to 67A.         -   Peduncles.—Generally about 2.5 cm long; about 2 mm in             diameter; colored close to 144A. Good strength.         -   Pedicels.—Generally two or more per peduncle. Each is             generally at least 2.25 cm in length, and at least 1.5 mm in             diameter. Color is close to 144A. Good strength.         -   Reproductive organs.—The reproductive organs are replaced             with sterile petaloids.         -   Disease resistance.—Disease resistance has not been tested.         -   Dampness resistance.—The plant has shown a good ability to             hold the flowers in an outward manner during summer rains.         -   Cold/heat resistance.—Plant flowers well in summer heat.

COMPARISON CHART TO PRIOR ART ‘TiCoPur’ ‘Deep Purple’ Stems - color Color is between 146A and Close to 146B with 187B 146B with tiny markings markings close to 183B Foliage - Size about 5 cm long; about 4 About 5 cm long; about 3.5 Abaxial color cm wide cm wide close to 147C 147B with reddish blotches close to 183D Foliage - close to 146A Close to 148A Abaxial venation color Foliage - close to 147A 147A Adaxial color Foliage - main vein at base is closest 148A Adaxial to 146A, lateral veins venation color appear closest to 146A Petiole - Size about 3.5 cm long, 4 mm About 4.25 cm long and Adaxial color wide, depth of about 2.5 About 3 mm diameter mm. appears to be 146B; Close to 148A with 187B markings at node end Petiole appears close to 146C Same as adaxial color Abaxial color Largest Petal/ generally at least 1.5 cm. About 2.25 cm in length, Petaloid - Size wide and at least 1.5 cm. about 2.5 cm in width Abaxial color deep close to 74D with a 71D, some have markings basal spot close to 67A lighter than 69D and lighter than 157D Petal/ Close to 74A with a basal Between 74A and 74B Petaloid spot close to 67A. Adaxial color Peduncle - Size about 2.5 cm long; about 2 About 3.5 cm long, about color mm in diameter; 2 mm in diameter close to 144A. 146B to 146C with reddish stripes Pedicel - Size generally at least 2.25 cm About 2.5 cm in length, color in length, and at least 1.5 between 1 and 2 mm. mm in diameter. 146B to 146C with tiny close to 144A. reddish spots Sepal - Size generally measures about About 1 cm wide and about Adaxial color 1 cm wide, and about 1.25 1 cm wide. cm long Close to 149D with a spot close to 149D with a spot close to 74C to 74D around where the spur connects close to 67A; Sepal close to 145D with a spot Close to 149D with a spot Abaxial color where the spur attaches of 73B close to 67A Spur - Size generally at least 2 cm About 3 cm color long, and about 2 mm in Close to 146D with tinges diameter at sepal end; and of red close to 178B at about 1 mm at apex apex close to 145A at apex, 67A at base, and a purple tinged green not matching or close to any color in the chart Buds - Size about 1 cm. in length; about About 1 cm long, about 0.7 Color .75 cm. in diameter cm diameter close to 145A on top and 145B to 145C close to 149D on bottom.

COLOR CODE CHART Stems: 146A, 146B, 183B Foliage Abaxial surface: 147C Foliage Abaxial surface venation: 146A Foliage Adaxial surface: 147A Foliage Adaxial surface venation: 146A Petiole Abaxial surface: 146C Petiole Adaxial surface: 146B Petals/Petaloids Abaxial surface: 74A, 67A Petals/Petaloids Adaxial surface: 74A, 67A Buds: 145A, 149D Peduncles: 144A Pedicels: 144A Sepals adaxial surface: 149D, 67A Sepals abaxial surface: 145D, 67A Spur: 145A, 67A 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of double-flowered ‘Impatiens walleriana’ plant named ‘TiCoPur’, as illustrated and described herein. 